People of New Zealand love the outdoors, rain or shine, and dog owners are often found exploring beaches, parks, forests, or strolling through neighborhoods. Known globally for the Great Walks—10 popular tracks maintained by the Department of Conservation—New Zealand offers stunning scenery from beaches to rainforests and alpine trails.
Inspired by this, we’ve curated a list of the best walks for you and your pet! Covering both North and South Islands, these walks suit all types of pets and owners. You’ll find rivers, mountains, lakes, and beaches, with options ranging from short, easy strolls to longer, more challenging hikes.
Whether your pet prefers staying clean and dry, has allergies, or is full of energy, there’s a walk for you.
SELECT A WALK
Tongariro River Trail
For dogs who like an all around experience
 Incline |
 On Leash |
Barrett Lagoon Loop
For dogs who like a lakeside stroll
 Flat |
On Leash |
Te Ara o Wairakei Path
For dogs who are small and like to keep clean
| Flat |
On Leash |
Eskdale Reserve
For dogs who like to explore the forest
| Flat |
On Leash |
The Esplanade
For dogs who like to walk near the beach
| Flat |
On Leash |
Ōrewa Beach
For the dogs who love to splash and sprint
|
Flat |
 Off Leash* |
 On Leash* |
Takapuna Beach
For the dogs who love to walk, wag, and woof
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
St Leonards Beach
For the dogs who love a secret spot to roam free
| Flat |
 Off Leash |
Piha Beach
For the dogs who crave adventure and wild landscapes
|
Incline |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Muriwai Beach
For the dogs who dream of endless zoomies!
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Bucklands Beach
For the dogs who enjoy the slow life with a sea breeze
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Pukehina Beach
For the dogs who love soft sand and sunshine
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Te Henga Walkway
For the dogs who love epic views and long treks
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Hagley Park Loop
For small dogs who need the rest
| Flat |
Off Leash |
Flagstaff Loop
For dogs who are mountain climbers
| Incline |
On Leash |
Fernhill Loop
For dogs who like long hikes
| Incline |
On Leash |
Maitai River Walk
For dogs who have allergies
| Flat |
On Leash |
Lake Hayes Walkway
For dogs who like to go the extra mile
| Flat |
On Leash |
Spencer Park Beach
For the dogs who love the best of both worlds—beach and bush
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Monro Beach
For the dogs who love a rainforest-to-beach adventure
| Flat |
On Leash |
Wharariki Beach
For the dogs who love dramatic landscapes and golden dunes
| Incline |
On Leash |
The Esplanade
For dogs who like to walk near the beach
| Flat |
On Leash |
Ōrewa Beach
For the dogs who love to splash and sprint
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Takapuna Beach
For the dogs who love to walk, wag, and woof
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
St Leonards Beach
For the dogs who love a secret spot to roam free
| Flat |
Off Leash |
Piha Beach
For the dogs who crave adventure and wild landscapes
|
Incline |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Muriwai Beach
For the dogs who dream of endless zoomies!
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Bucklands Beach
For the dogs who enjoy the slow life with a sea breeze
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Pukehina Beach
For the dogs who love soft sand and sunshine
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Te Henga Walkway
For the dogs who love epic views and long treks
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Lake Hayes Walkway
For dogs who like to go the extra mile
| Flat |
On Leash |
Spencer Park Beach
For the dogs who love the best of both worlds—beach and bush
|
Flat |
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Monro Beach
For the dogs who love a rainforest-to-beach adventure
| Flat |
On Leash |
Wharariki Beach
For the dogs who love dramatic landscapes and golden dunes
| Incline |
On Leash |
Tongariro River Trail
For dogs who like an all around experience
Incline |
On Leash |
Barrett Lagoon Loop
For dogs who like a lakeside stroll
| Flat |
On Leash |
Te Ara o Wairakei Path
For dogs who are small and like to keep clean
| Flat |
On Leash |
Eskdale Reserve
For dogs who like to explore the forest
| Flat |
On Leash |
SELECT A WALK
Tongariro River Trail
For dogs who like an all around experience
Incline |
On Leash |
Barrett Lagoon Loop
For dogs who like a lakeside stroll
| Flat |
On Leash |
Te Ara o Wairakei Path
For dogs who are small and like to keep clean
| Flat |
On Leash |
Eskdale Reserve
For dogs who like to explore the forest
| Flat |
On Leash |
The Esplanade
For dogs who like to walk near the beach
| Flat |
On Leash |
Ōrewa Beach
For the dogs who love to splash and sprint
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Takapuna Beach
For the dogs who love to walk, wag, and woof
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
St Leonards Beach
For the dogs who love a secret spot to roam free
| Flat |
Off Leash |
Piha Beach
For the dogs who crave adventure and wild landscapes
|
Incline |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Muriwai Beach
For the dogs who dream of endless zoomies!
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Bucklands Beach
For the dogs who enjoy the slow life with a sea breeze
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Pukehina Beach
For the dogs who love soft sand and sunshine
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Te Henga Walkway
For the dogs who love epic views and long treks
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Hagley Park Loop
For small dogs who need the rest
|
Flat |
Off Leash |
Flagstaff Loop
For dogs who are mountain climbers
| Incline |
On Leash |
Fernhill Loop
For dogs who like long hikes
| Incline |
On Leash |
Maitai River Walk
For dogs who like long hikes
| Incline |
On Leash |
Lake Hayes Walkway
For dogs who like to go the extra mile
| Flat |
On Leash |
Spencer Park Beach
For the dogs who love the best of both worlds—beach and bush
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Monro Beach
For the dogs who love a rainforest-to-beach adventure
| Flat |
On Leash |
St Leonards Beach
For the dogs who love a secret spot to roam free
| Flat |
Off Leash |
Wharariki Beach
For the dogs who love dramatic landscapes and golden dunes
| Incline |
On Leash |
The Esplanade
For dogs who like to walk near the beach
| Flat |
On Leash |
Ōrewa Beach
For the dogs who love to splash and sprint
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Takapuna Beach
For the dogs who love to walk, wag, and woof
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
St Leonards Beach
For the dogs who love a secret spot to roam free
| Flat |
Off Leash |
Piha Beach
For the dogs who crave adventure and wild landscapes
|
Incline |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Muriwai Beach
For the dogs who dream of endless zoomies!
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Bucklands Beach
For the dogs who enjoy the slow life with a sea breeze
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Pukehina Beach
For the dogs who love soft sand and sunshine
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Te Henga Walkway
For the dogs who love epic views and long treks
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Lake Hayes Walkway
For dogs who like to go the extra mile
| Flat |
On Leash |
Spencer Park Beach
For the dogs who love the best of both worlds—beach and bush
|
Flat |
|
Off Leash* |
On Leash* |
Monro Beach
For the dogs who love a rainforest-to-beach adventure
| Flat |
On Leash |
Wharariki Beach
For the dogs who love dramatic landscapes and golden dunes
| Incline |
On Leash |
Tongariro River Trail
For dogs who like an all around experience
Incline |
On Leash |
Barrett Lagoon Loop
For dogs who like a lakeside stroll
| Flat |
On Leash |
Te Ara o Wairakei Path
For dogs who are small and like to keep clean
| Flat |
On Leash |
Eskdale Reserve
For dogs who like to explore the forest
| Flat |
On Leash |
Hagley Park Loop
For small dogs who need the rest
|
Flat |
Off Leash |
Flagstaff Loop
For dogs who are mountain climbers
| Incline |
On Leash |
Fernhill Loop
For dogs who like long hikes
| Incline |
On Leash |
Maitai River Walk
For dogs who like long hikes
| Incline |
On Leash |
Tell us about the walks you’ve tried with your pet and which walks we should add to our list.
Your input helps us keep this guide fresh and useful!
👉 Tried One of Our Pet Walks? Tell Us About It!
👉 Know a Walk We Missed? Help Us Add It to the List!